Looper



Oct. 4, 1932. R. w. coNANT LOOPER Filed Aug. 26. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet n. Mr c H Oct. 4, 1932.

R. W. CONANT LOOPER Filed Aug. 26, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet /N l/E/v roe:

Patented Oct. 4, 1932 UNITED 'STATES PATENT'. eprice RAY W. CONANT, OF LOS ANGLES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T HAROLD BROWN,

, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA LoorEn Application filed August 28, 1829. serial No. 888,412.

This invention relates to a device for temporarily storing or holding for subsequent use a continuous strip of sheet material as such material issues from va machine in which operations thereon have been performed.

In the manufacture of roofing material, to which art the invention is particularly valuable, the roong paper issues in a continuous manner from a machine in the form of a continuous strip. Where the strip is to be then operated on by a machine, and especially Where such second machine is non-continuous in its operation, a temporary storage device, called a looper, is disposed between the iirst and second machines, this looperV having means for supporting the strip of material issuing Vfrom the first machine in the formV of suspended loops. The feeding of the endlessstrip of material tothe looper or storage,`

device may be continuous, and the withdrawal of the strip' of material for subsequent operation may be non-continuous.

' My invention relates to a looper or storage device of the above character having a device associatedtherewith for preventing disalignment of the strip of sheet material and as a result thereof eliminating the breakage of the strip of4 sheet material 'due to such disali ment. gn

provide a simple form of device of the character set forth in the preceding paragraph which Will operate in frictional engagement with the end loop of a series of loops of sheet 3 CII tional engagement will prevent such disalignment or twisting in the end loop as ordinarily-results in breakage of the strip.

A further obj ect of the invention is to provide in a looper a breakage preventing device which is Yadapted to automatically assume a yielding position against thenal or leaving loop of a strip of sheet material.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character having meansfor adjusting the pressure with which a restraining means Vis lheld in engagement with the final loop of a stripl of sheet material.

A.A further object of the invention is to material held in a looper, and by such fric-U It is a further object of the invention to provide a restraining device whichmay be adjusted to a desired'angle of operation as may berequired by the characteristics ofthe strip of sheet material passing through the looper.

In the following part of the speciflication the utility, advantages, andfurther objects of the invention will be more specifically pointed out.

Referring to the drawings/which are for illustrative purposes` only,v

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of simpleand diagrammaticform showing the embodiment of my invention. i

Fig. 2I is a fragmentary View taken subtantially as indicated by the line 2-2 of v F ig?)` isa fragmentary view on the pla-nev represented by the line 3-'3 of Fig. 2.v f

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing one form o f disalignment or twisting which occurs in the ordinary type of looper and results in breakage of the strip of sheet material 'from which the loops are formed.

In the simple form of apparatus illustrated in the drawings a! looper 11 is shown which includes a frameworkl2 having forward and rearward pairs of end posts 13 and 14 eX- tending upwardly from a concrete foundation15 which may consistV of part of flooring 16. The upper 'ends of the angles 17 which form the posts 13' and 14 are preferably tied together by aj suitablegbrace or braces, suchl as indicated at'18.' lBy means of sprockets'19 supported-by brackets 20 which extend from the frame 12, a'continuous chain Y belt 21 is supported in substantially the man,A ner shown in Fig. 1. The lchain belt ,21 includes laterally extending tubular rollers 22 which move forwardlyin the direction indicated by the-arrow 23 `under a set of discharging rollers 24 over which a strip of sheet material 25 is continuously being discharged from an outlet 26 of what may be conveniently termed a primary machine.

By suitable mechanism operating in timed relationship to the movement of t-he strip of sheet material 25 from the outlet 26 of the primary machine, the chain belt 21 is caused to move forwardly in the direction of the ar- Y row 23 in such a manner that consecutive chine l will hereinafter term the secondary machine.

Duringihe periods of non-witlidra\.val'of'VA the forward end 28 of the strip `of sheet material 25 from the looper 11, the strip being continuously fed into the looper from therollers 24 will be formed in consecutive loops 27, the end or final loop'30 moving in leftward direction with the rollers 22 from which it is suspended, asalso do each of the succeeding loops as each-consecutive loop is formed. i i

`As the material is drawn from the looper Y 11 in the direction of the arrow 29, the end terial is being fed into the looper 11, the po-v loop 30 is shortened and then vfully withdrawn, at which time the adjacent or subfinal loop 31 becomes theV end loop and is itself shortened and removed by the action of withdrawing the forward end 28` of the strip of sheet material 25 from lthe looper 11. Vhen the primary machinevis stopped or when the withdrawing action is at any time faster than the speed at which the sheetrma* sition of the final loop will move in reverse direction, or rightwardly, as each final loop 30 is removed from the series of loops 27,

This temporary storage device or looper is of particular utility where the operation of the secondary machine isintermittent, as it enables the holding of the sheet in condition ready for utilization by the secondary inachine. Y j y The starting of an machine produces an `abrupt jerk on the pri'- mary loop 30, and where such primary loop 30V is allowed to hang in free suspension the result of the jerk at the startof the withdrawal ofthe-strip of sheet material from the looper often produces an inverse twisting in the sheet material, as indicated at 32 in the end loop 30a shown in/Fig. 4 in suspension from rollers ,22a of a traveling chainbelt.V As the sheet materialis drawn on in the direction of'the arrow 33, Fig. in using vthe standard type of looper, the disaligned or twisted portion 32 of '-the end loop 30al is drawn up between the 'rollers 22a and isr vcaughtthereat in such a manner as to result in breakage of the strip.A This twisting or .disaligning action is especially noticed wlierethe 'strip of sheet material is impregnated with a substance which tends Vto stiffen or harden during the hanging of the strip' in thel form of loops in the looper, such a condition being found in the art of manufacturing roofing paper where they strip consists of aI sheet of felt or felt intermittent secondaryY paper impregnated with asphalt or similar substances.

f My invention provides means for preventing such twisting, distorting, or disaligning of the strip of sheet'material as set forth in the preceding paragraph, which means may conveniently consist of a plate or frame inember 35 adapted to be applied against such of the consecutive loops as may be necessary to prevent twisting of the sheet material as it is beinfg'withdrawn from the looper.

y As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the member 35 may include a wall Vstructure 34 of sheet material or fabric supported as illustrated on a tubular'frame 36'havi'ng rollers 37 at the upper andv lower extremities thereof and being supported in adjustable relationship on` a shaft or shafts 38 which extend between carriages 39 having rollers or wheels 40 which roll upon a pairof inclined tracks 41 which j extend longitudinally of the looper between the uprights or posts 13 and 14. The tracks 41 slope rearwardly or downwardly in rightward direction so that the carriages 39 will tend, by gravity,to move in rightward direction, whereby to bring the restraining member 35 into engagement with the final or with the final and sub-final loops of such series of loops 27 asmayexistnin the looper 11. V

As the Znumber of loops 27 increases andas the final and sub-final loops move leftwardly,

the restraining member 35 is movedtherebyv in. leftward direction against the action of gravityVtending to yieldably hold the re-.-

straining member 35 in` rightward direction. From Fig. 1 it will be perceived that the yrollers 37 are parallel with therollers 22 and that the restraining action ofthe member 35 results in the `yieldable presentation of the rollers 37'andlthe sheet material 34 against the sides: ofthe final and subffinal loops 30 v and31, with the result that theseloops are Y,The leftwardposts 13 of the frame 12 are provided :with ,vertically alignedholes whereby the leftward ends of the trackmembers 41 may .be raised'or lowered, as desired,

to change the vslope thereof and to accordingly change the pressure with which the restraining member 35 is yieldably held against the finalland sub-final loops 30 and 31.

Y Tn the use of this device I havefound that the breakage of the strip of sheet material as a result of twisting or disalignment thereof is substantially entirely prevented, with the result that a worthwhile saving of time and labor is accomplishe I have herein shown my invention in sim ple and practical form, but it is recognizedv that certain parts or elements thereof are rep-- resentative of other parts, elements, or struc-l tures which may be employed in substantially the same manner to accomplish substantiallyV the same results; therefore, it is not intended` that the invention shall be limited to the cle-- tails disclosed herein but shall have the scope; set forth in the following claims.

I claim as my invention l. A device of the character described, including: a structure having means for sup-- porting a loop of sheet'material; and means: engaging said loop in a manner to preserve practical alignment thereof, said means being rendered effective by the weight of said4 loop.

2. A device of the character described, in cluding: a structure having means for sup-y porting a loop of sheet material; and means.` frictionally engaging said loop in a manner to preserve practical alignment thereof.

3. A device of the character described, including: a structure having means for snp-- porting a loop of sheet material and aligning means for preserving alignment of said loopI by engagement with an external face of said loop.

4. A device of the character described, including: a structure having means for supporting' a series of loops of sheet material; and means frictionally engaging an external face of an end loop of said series of loops in a manner topreserve alignment of such end loop as it is being withdrawn from said device.

5. A device of the character' described, in` cluding: a structure having means for supporting a series of loops of sheet material; and a restraining member .yieldably presented to the external face of the final loop of*y said series of loops.

6. A device of the character described, including: a structure having means for supporting a series of loops of sheet material; a restraining member for engagement with the final loop of said series of loops in a. manner to preserve alignment thereof; and means for accomplishing the movement of said restraining member into yielding engagement with said final loop.

7 A device of the character described, including: a structure having means for supporting a series of loops of sheet material; a restraining member for engagement with the final loop of said series of loops in a manner to preserve alignment thereof; and a sloping track member for producing movementof said restraining member into enga-gement with said nal loop.

8. A device of the character described, in-

ycluding cluding: a structure having means for `supportingl a loop of sheet material; a track sloping with respect to said structure; carriage means movable onsaid track; and a restrain- .ing member mounted on said carriage means in position to engage said loop. i

9. A device of the character,described,in cluding: a structure having means `for supporting a loop of sheet material; a track :sloping with respect to said structure; carriage means movable on said track; and a restraining member adjustably mounted on said carriage means in position to engage said loop.

10. A device of the character described, including: a structurehaving means for supporting a loop of sheet material; and means engaging said loopin a manner to preserve practical alignment;thereof, said means be- .ingadjustable forv sheets of different materials. i i

11. A device of the character described, in-

a structure having y porting a loop; means frictionally engaging .said loop in a manner to preserve practical alignment thereof; and adjusting means for varying' the frictional engagementV between said aligning means and said loop.

12. A device of the character described, including: a structure having means for supporting a loop Vof sheet material; and means it from verti- -engaging `said loop for moving preserve practical aligncal in a manner to nient of said loop.

13. A device of the character described, including a structure having means for supporting a loop of sheet material; and means engaging said loop for moving it from vertical an adjustable degree in armanner to pre- `serve practical alignment of said loop.

11i. A device of the character described, including: a structure having means for supporting a loop of sheet material; and means engaging said loop in a manner to preserve practical alignment thereof and with a frictional force which is a function of the weight of said loop.

15. A device of the character described, inl 'Y cluding: a structure having means for supporting a series of loops of sheet material; and means engagingan end loop and pressing it against the adjacentl loop ofsaid series of loops in a manner to preserve alignment of sugh end loop as it is being'withdrawn from said device. c

16. A device of the character described, including: a structure having means for supporting a series of loops of `sheet material; a restraining member for engagement with the final loop of Vsaid. series of loops in a manner to preserve alignment thereof; means for controlling theV pressure exerted on said final loop by said restraining member; and means for accoinplishingthe moveoff August, 1929.

Ing engagement with said 'lin'al loop.

17. A device of the character described, including: astructure havingfmeans for supporting ,a series of lloops; a restraining inemoer for engagement Wthvthe external face of the final 'loopof saidseries ofloopsin a `Inanner lto .preserve alignmentthereof; and gravty `actuated means for effecting the engage# mentcvlf saidlrestrainingmeans andsa'id inal loop. y Y

18. A Vdevice of the character described, including.: a structure Vhaving means for supporting a loop of sheet material; a track sloping Wit-"h respect to said structure; lmeans for Varying the slope of said track; carriage means movable on said track;l and a restraining .member adjustably mounted onsaid carriagemeans inpositionto engage sadloop.

ln Witness whereof, havehereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this ZOthday RAY- W. yCorunaiv.

ment of said restraining member into *yield- 

